Middlebrooks leading by example in the Red Sox clubhouse

BOSTON — The Red Sox were still aligned down the first-base line, awaiting the ceremonial first pitches from Monday’s heroes on Opening Day. Three players broke out of the line to catch those pitches:

Comment

By
TIM BRITTON
Posted Apr. 21, 2013 @ 8:13 pm

BOSTON — The Red Sox were still aligned down the first-base line, awaiting the ceremonial first pitches from Monday’s heroes on Opening Day. Three players broke out of the line to catch those pitches: David Ortiz, Dustin Pedroia and Will Middlebrooks.

Ortiz and Pedroia were obvious choices. But it was noteworthy that Middlebrooks earned the third place behind the plate, over a more established Red Sox veteran like Jon Lester or Clay Buchholz.

“They asked me, and I was like, ‘Really?’ That was awesome,” Middlebrooks said Sunday. “That made my day. That made my year so far — to be a part of that group with those guys that are the real heroes. It’s not us. We play a game. We’re not saving lives. It was pretty cool to be a part of.”

It was pretty cool to be a part of, but also a reaffirmation of Middlebrooks’ place in the team’s hierarchy. Already, the third baseman is becoming a face of the franchise.

It wasn’t the first symbol this season of Middlebrooks’ more significant place on the roster. In the spring, his locker moved from its faraway spot in the corner to a central location with the starting infielders. He’s also wearing No. 16 this season, a far cry from the gaudy No. 64 he donned a year ago.

On days like Saturday, it’s easy to forget that this time last year, Middlebrooks was still in Pawtucket. Called up on May 2, he has not yet been in the major leagues for a full season (although when you mention this to him, he astutely points out that he has now accumulated more than a year of service time).

But if in April 2012 Middlebrooks was a key figure in Boston’s future, in April 2013 he’s grown into a centerpiece of its present. Perhaps more than any other, the past week has highlighted that development.

During one of the most unusual times in Red Sox history, it was Middlebrooks, as much as any other player, who emerged as the voice of the team. Arguably the most active Twitter user on the team, Middlebrooks used that avenue to spread “Boston Strong” messages and stay in touch with the fan base.

Before David Ortiz provided the epigraph for this entire saga on Saturday afternoon, Middlebrooks’ defiant messages were being retweeted and favorited across the region.

“I love Boston,” he tweeted late Monday afternoon. “It’s my new home… I’m still in shock and can’t wrap my head around all of this. Wish there was something I could do.”

And on Friday night, shortly after the second suspect was captured, he tweeted: “So proud to be a part of this great city. #BostonStrong.”

“We have a lot of voices on this team. There was plenty of negative stuff being said and shown on TV. I just wanted to throw some of the positives in there and get someone’s mind off it if I could,” Middlebrooks said Sunday. “I just know the kind of platform we have in the city because of what we do. I just want to use it to be a positive example and help people out.”